Samsung GEAR VR gets a motion controller

VR porn compatible? Asking for a friend.

01 Mar 2017

We've seen a lot happen with VR last year.

From the buggy development kits to those nifty consumer versions we still can't afford.

But for those with empty pockets and a hankering for a taste of what the new market has to offer - it's now comforting to know that Samsung's mobile VR headest 'Samsung Gear VR' has just been given a motion controller! Similar in design to the HTC Vive this new control seeks to add a little more interactivity to the current games/applications we've been using. Here's hoping it brings the life of mobile VR further into the mainstream because - to be honest - having to manage a cable coming out the back of the DK2 is really starting to steam my hams.

"We’ve been working closely with Samsung to improve our mobile VR platform with the latest advancements in VR input and interactivity—you’ll be able to use your hand to point, drag and drop, tilt, shoot, and more.

Convenient Control

The Gear VR Controller adds a deeper level of immersion by giving you the power to interact with the virtual environment in an intuitive way. The controller’s touchpad has been tuned to make it easy to navigate to your favorite videos and perform a number of actions within a game, while the trigger lets you select, grab, take aim, and fire.

Ergonomically designed for use with a single hand, the controller also has integrated home, volume, and back buttons, so you can easily move through a variety of content without breaking immersion.

Over 70 Controller Titles Coming Soon!

We’ve got an amazing lineup of controller-compatible content coming, with more than 70 new controller titles already in development. All of your existing touchpad apps will be compatible as well, which means plenty of existing Gear VR apps will be ready from day one.

We’ll open up the Gear VR Controller SDK to all developers in a few weeks so they can start building experiences for the controller. If you’re a developer and want to get in on the action, please click here to submit an SDK and Gear VR Controller hardware request.

Attending GDC?

We’d love to meet with you to share more about the SDK and how you can get involved. Swing by Booth 1014 in the North Hall March 1 – 3 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm to pick the brains of Oculus co-founders, content leads, and our Developer Relations team.

Unlock the Potential of Mobile VR

We’re thrilled to welcome this addition to Gear VR and all the potential it holds for mobile VR. With 550+ apps already available on the Oculus Store, Gear VR already has an incredibly robust content library—yet some of the best experiences would benefit from a controller to tap their full functionality. We can’t wait to offer the freedom of improved, streamlined controls to the entire Gear VR community soon!"